Integrated Assessment Call for Ideas about How to "Green" the U-M Campus

Men walk by tulips (by Lisa Pappas) Everything begins with an idea. Innovative ways for helping to “green” the University of Michigan campus are no exception.

With this in mind, the University of Michigan has been actively soliciting ideas from the U-M community about how to improve sustainability efforts on campus. This “call for ideas” is part of a large-scale Campus Sustainability project being conducted by the Graham Sustainability Institute’s Integrated Assessment (IA) Team and the new Office of Campus Sustainability—with active input and involvement from U-M students, faculty, staff, and other stakeholders.

“We’ve received quite a few submissions from staff and faculty,” says John Callewaert, Director of Integrated Assessment at the Graham Institute in reference to an online Campus Sustainability Idea Submission Form on the Graham Institute website. “Now we’re really hoping to hear more from students.”

There are seven specific project subject areas where the Campus Sustainability team has been actively seeking input. These include:

Buildings
Energy Sources
Transportation
Land & Water
Food
Purchased Goods
Culture

“No concept is too small,” Callewaert says. “In fact, some of the most effective means for reducing environmental impact can be achieved through simple efforts. We really want to receive input from all levels of our student population about what they think we should be doing.”

The online idea form hasn't been the only means for U-M community members to make themselves heard about campus sustainability—and/or to learn about what suggestions or activities may already be on the table related to the Campus Sustainability project.

The Graham Institute and OCS held a “phase-two” Campus Sustainability Town Hall Meeting on Monday, April 12, 2010 in Rackham 4th Floor Amphitheatre. As part of the event, Campus Sustainability Analysis Teams (staffed by U-M faculty and students) presented preliminary findings and proposed action plans for their specific campus sustainability project areas. After the reports, attendees participated in different Analysis Team Breakout Sessions to learn more about the different campus sustainability project areas, as well as to offer comments and suggestions for those projects.

“The Campus Sustainability Town Hall Meeting was an important opportunity for individuals to have a say about what they think the university should be pursuing to improve our environmental stewardship,” says Don Scavia, Director of the Graham Institute and Special Counsel to the U-M President on Sustainability. “This entire project is a great way for students to make a very valuable and lasting contribution to their alma mater.”

To learn more about the Campus Sustainability project, please visit the Integrated Assessment section of the Graham Institute webpage. Or, if you have any questions about how to get involved, please contact the Integrated Assessment Team at integrated-assessment@umich.edu.